Fuel prices are heading up through another roof, but Brazil has an answer.
Embraer just delivered the first commercial aircraft to run on ethanol. Apparently there are already 400 airplanes running on ethanol in Brazil, this is just the first in commercial production. CBC claims that the aircraft is a commercial jet, but the press release makes it clear that the EMB202 Ipanemao is a single-engine crop sprayer, with a 300 hp engine, presumably piston. Embraer also offers a retrofit kit, and plans more ethanol-burning aircraft. Brazil has a domestic supply of ethanol, made from a byproduct of sugar cane processing.
As a Canadian, I can't link to Embraer without mentioning Bombardier. The two companies are both adept at producing regional jets, attracting governement handouts, and whining internationally that the other offers unfair competition because of the level of government subsidy. Fortunately, Bombardier has a story today, too.
The Bombardier Board of Directors has given the go ahead to offer the C-Series. Based on customer response, and government subsidies, they may actually make the thing, basically a Canadian answer to the B737. No word yet on whether there will be a version that runs on fermented maple syrup.
4 comments:
Thank goodness they haven't made one that runs on BEER
Are you not having any trouble posting comments? I can't seem to post comments to my own blog. (Which pretty much guarantees this one will work perfectly, to make me look silly). I think it is your unique ability to post, and not any inate sadness, that is leaving you alone in commentland.
Yep. Knew it.
No word yet on whether there will be a version that runs on fermented maple syrup.
... and back bacon? No back bacon? I laughed. good one...
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